Empowering people building communities

Our mission is to bridge the gap and build communities by empowering disadvantaged and disenfranchised individuals to build their self sufficiency through social inclusion, practical training and enhanced employment opportunities.

Job Services Australia (JSA)

Bridging the Gap is a not-for-profit organisation and member of the JobFutures National Employment Network who have been contracted by the Department of Employment (formerly the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations) to deliver the Job Services Australia (JSA) contract. In addition to delivering JSA services, Bridging the Gap also deliver Disability Employment Services (DES) from offices in Rockingham, Mandurah, Spearwood, Wembley, Waroona and Kwinana.

For over 27 years we have been pairing jobseekers with employers and are one of the only JSA providers in Western Australia to be awarded a five-star rating for our services .

How we help Employers

When a vacancy becomes available in your business, it’s important to find the right person for the job as quickly as possible. Traditional hiring methods can be drawn out and cumbersome, removing you from the important business of running your business; so let us do the hard work for you!Bridging the Gap offer a no-cost employment solution for businesses of all sizes from Wembley to Pinjarra. We work closely with employers at a community level to identify immediate employment needs and the skills required within your industry. We then match these with appropriately trained and work-ready candidates from our extensive employment pool, providing a range of incentives including post-placement support for both the candidate and employer, as well as financial support in the form of wage subsidies and pre-vocational and vocational education and training.

How we help the Unemployed

If you have recently registered with Centrelink to receive unemployment benefits, you may have automatically been, or requested to be, assigned to work with us with a goal to returning to full or part-time employment.

From your first visit to Bridging the Gap, our Employment Advisors are on hand to assess your situation and help develop an Employment Pathway Plan, offering personalised help services including access to a range of free training courses, support with resume writing, information on local employment and work experience opportunities and links to a range of Government initiatives that will support your needs.

For more information about how you can benefit from working with Bridging the Gap, contact us on (08) 9550 1111 or email mailbox@bridgingthegap.org.au.

Information for Job Seekers and Employers

Be aged 18 to 30 and have been receiving Newstart Allowance, Youth Allowance as a job seeker, or a combination of both for at least 12 continuous months

Commence continuous gainful work for 12 months in Australia starting on or after 1 July 2014

Not receive an income support payment during this 12 month period, and

Continue to be an Australian citizen or permanent visa holder throughout the period of gainful work

Job Commitment Bonus second payment

To qualify for the second Job Commitment Bonus you must:

have qualified for the first Job Commitment Bonus

complete a further 12 months of continuous gainful work in Australia and not receive an income support payment. That’s a total of 24 consecutive months , and

continue to be an Australian citizen or permanent visa holder throughout the period of gainful work

Certain Special Category Visa (SCV) holders will be excluded from being able to apply for the Job Commitment Bonus. This means SCV holders will be treated like other New Zealand citizens who arrived in Australia after 26 February 2001. SCV holders will need to be granted a permanent visa in order to access the bonus.

Continuous gainful work definition

Gainful work

Gainful work means working for financial benefit or reward whether as an employee or as a self employed person. Financial benefit or reward includes wages or commissions paid to a person and fees or payments which a self employed person receives from their customers.

Certain types of work will not attract a Job Commitment Bonus. These may include work which:

does not involve sufficient financial gain or reward, for example voluntary work or work for less than the Federal Minimum Wage or Award Wage

does not involve substantial and consistent personal exertion, for example occasional selling of own goods on eBay or garage sales, or occasional blogging

involves domestic or gardening tasks at your home, the home of a family member, your investment property or a family member's investment property

involves the care of a family member or your foster child at your or your family's place of residence

involves domestic tasks for a family member, your foster child, or another person at your place of residence or a family members place of residence

involves the management of financial investments in which you or a family member has an interest

involves nudity or is in the sex industry

contravenes Commonwealth, state or territory legislation

is for the purpose of achieving election of you to public office

is undertaken as part of certain Commonwealth funded programmes, for example some participants in the Green Army Programme, and the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme is done for the purpose of an academic, sporting or other scholarship, or

In light of Australia’s ageing population and the need to become a more productive nation, the contribution of older workers is becoming more crucial to the workplace. When older Australians lose their jobs, they remain unemployed for a much longer period than younger job seekers often because they face significant barriers to finding work.

How is it paid?

Restart will deliver support to employers who employ and retain eligible job seekers who are 50 years of age or older, and who have been unemployed and on income support for six months or more. An employer will receive up to $10 000 (GST inclusive) in assistance for a full-time employee over two years.

The Restart wage subsidy is paid in four six-monthly payments:

$3000 after 6 months employment;

$3000 after 12 months employment;

$2000 after 18 months employment; and

$2000 after 24 months employment.

Who is eligible for Restart

An eligible job seeker is someone who :

is 50 years of age or older;

has been unemployed for six months or more and has been in receipt of any of the following income support payments for six months or more:

We are currently recruiting for a Green Army project in Geraldton, starting in April 2015. To express your interest emailAndrea Claytonand include your name, address, phone number and attach your resume if possible.

What is the Green Army?

The Green Army is a voluntary programme for 17-24 year olds interested in protecting their local environment. The Green Army provides young people with skills, training and experience to improve their future career prospects while participating in projects that generate real and lasting benefits for the environment

How can I get Involved?

You can apply if you are aged between 17-24 years and an Australian citizen or permanent resident. You may be a school leaver, gap year student, graduate, Indigenous person, an unemployed job seeker and/or a person with a disability. Eligibility requirements relating to age may be extended beyond those listed above in future years.

How do I apply?

To apply you need to ring 9550 1111 and ask for the Green Army Registration Team

What's in it for me?

Being part of a Green Army team will provide you with valuable skills, training and experience that will support you in future career prospects.

You will have the opportunity to undertake accredited training such as work readiness, conservation and land management, heritage conservation, project and human resource management and heritage trade skills.

You will be trained in First Aid and Work Health and Safety (white card) before starting a project.

You will receive an allowance during your placement in the Green Army. The Green Army allowance ranges from $10.14 to $16.45 per hour.

You will be contributing to a nationwide effort to clean up Australia’s environment and help your local community.

You will be a part of Australia’s largest-ever team of young Australians supporting environmental action in our history.

What will I be doing?

As a Green Army participant you will be involved in a project for up to 30 hours a week for a period of 20-26 weeks and undertake a range of activities which may include:

propagating and planting native seedlings

weed control

re-vegetation and regeneration of local parks

habitat protection and restoration

improving water quality by cleaning up waterways

re-vegetation of sand dunes and mangroves

creek bank regeneration

foreshore and beach restoration

construction of boardwalks and walking tracks to protect local wildlife; and

cultural heritage restoration.

Green Army projects will be carried out across urban, regional and remote Australia. The Service Providers will ensure you are provided with transport to and from a nominated pick up point and get you to and from training activities.

You will be provided with appropriate clothing and safety gear during your time on the project including, boots, trousers, hat, gloves, shirts and where necessary wet weather gear and jumpers or jackets for cold climates.

Am I covered for work health and safety?

All participants will be afforded the relevant protections under existing state and territory legislation, any applicable Commonwealth laws and Australian anti-discrimination laws. All parties will hold relevant insurances. The Australian Government has also procured personal accident, public and products liability insurance on behalf of all participants to ensure you receive uniform minimum coverage.

I already get income support. Can I still join?

If you receive an income support payment, participating in the Green Army may affect your payment. If you join the Green Army full-time, your income support payment will be put on hold while you receive a Green Army allowance. For those who have agreements for participating part-time you can elect a pro-rata allowance or retain your income support arrangements.

PARTICIPATION: 2 week course - 11.30am – 4.00pmDETAILS: This motivational course is suitable for most long term unemployed persons to help get them back into the work force. It looks at work motivation, career path, achieving employment, identifying the job seekers selling points and life with a job.

PARTICIPATION: 5 half-days or 2.5 full days - 11.30am – 4.00pm DETAILS: This emotive and explorational course addresses issues of self esteem and building self confidence and is an excellent introduction to changing one's way of thinking about themselves and the world surrounding them.

PARTICIPATION: Monday – Wednesday, 9.30am – 4.00pm DETAILS: Pathway workshops have been designed for clients identified as having little or no desire or intention to re-enter the workforce. This course will identify barriers and encourage change whilst addressing the basic requirements to commence job-hunting.

PARTICIPATION: 2-3 sessions lasting approx 2-3hours eachAVAILABILITY: Ongoing as required or requested. DETAILS: Career development programs are available to clients and customers and can be used to help identify areas of interest and skill in order for someone to identify new career pathways or to help plan and prepare entrance to a new field of work.

PARTICIPATION: 1 day course or individual sessions DETAILS: This course covers addresses a numnber of skillsets for responsible living including Public Transport, Childcare, Housing, Money, Budgeting and Legal Matters.

PARTICIPATION: 4 half days over two weeks - 11.30am – 4.00pm DETAILS: In roder to complete this certification clients must complete an enrolment form through their BTG youth or employment services advisor and provide a copy of their Healthcare card. Clients under 17 years must provide a valid NOA Form from their school.

PARTICIPATION: 6 months, 2-3 days per week DETAILS: Small Steps is for Early School Leavers who want to bridge the gap to further study or employment. This program focuses on core employability skills needed to progress with your chosen career. Clients complete a Certificate I in Work Preparation with a selected few modules from Certificate II in CALM including on-the-job exposure within our plant nursery at Casuarina - Ngulla Training & Community Centre.

Disability Employment Services (DES)

DES is a national network of organisations funded by the Australian Government to help employers recruit and retain employees with a disability. Bridging the Gap’s DES team work to assist jobseekers with a disability, injury or health issue to find and retain employment, as well as providing the tools and techniques they might need to manage their disability or injury within a work environment. DES provides ongoing support in the workplace for as long as required with strong links to training and skills development, particularly within the industries known to experience skills shortages.

What we offer:

professional recruitment advice and job matching;

help with job design for employees with disability;

on-the-job or off-site support to ensure new employees with a disability settle into their job;

ongoing support for as long as it is required;

training information and access to a wide range of BTG courses; and

help for employees whose job may be in jeopardy as a result of their disability.

Career Advance

Get the job you want!

Trying to break into the workforce for the first time, or after an extended period away?

Our Career Advance package can help you! It includes career development guidance to help you articulate your strengths, skills and work preferences, followed by a modern resume that will showcase you to employers.

Wage Subsidies

Wage subsidies are payments made to eligible employers to help cover the costs of paying wages in the first few months of employment of a person with disability or a person experiencing other barriers to employment. They aim to increase the competitiveness of workers, including those with disability

For more information on individual wage subsidies that we can assist with please click on the links below.

Green Army Info

We are currently recruiting for a Green Army project in Geraldton, starting in April 2015. To express your interest emailAndrea Claytonand include your name, address, phone number and attach your resume if possible.

What is the Green Army?

The Green Army is a voluntary programme for 17-24 year olds interested in protecting their local environment. The Green Army provides young people with skills, training and experience to improve their future career prospects while participating in projects that generate real and lasting benefits for the environment

How can I get Involved?

You can apply if you are aged between 17-24 years and an Australian citizen or permanent resident. You may be a school leaver, gap year student, graduate, Indigenous person, an unemployed job seeker and/or a person with a disability. Eligibility requirements relating to age may be extended beyond those listed above in future years.

How do I apply?

To apply you need to ring 9550 1111 and ask for the Green Army Registration Team

What's in it for me?

Being part of a Green Army team will provide you with valuable skills, training and experience that will support you in future career prospects.

You will have the opportunity to undertake accredited training such as work readiness, conservation and land management, heritage conservation, project and human resource management and heritage trade skills.

You will be trained in First Aid and Work Health and Safety (white card) before starting a project.

You will receive an allowance during your placement in the Green Army. The Green Army allowance ranges from $10.14 to $16.45 per hour.

You will be contributing to a nationwide effort to clean up Australia’s environment and help your local community.

You will be a part of Australia’s largest-ever team of young Australians supporting environmental action in our history.

What will I be doing?

As a Green Army participant you will be involved in a project for up to 30 hours a week for a period of 20-26 weeks and undertake a range of activities which may include:

propagating and planting native seedlings

weed control

re-vegetation and regeneration of local parks

habitat protection and restoration

improving water quality by cleaning up waterways

re-vegetation of sand dunes and mangroves

creek bank regeneration

foreshore and beach restoration

construction of boardwalks and walking tracks to protect local wildlife; and

cultural heritage restoration.

Green Army projects will be carried out across urban, regional and remote Australia. The Service Providers will ensure you are provided with transport to and from a nominated pick up point and get you to and from training activities.

You will be provided with appropriate clothing and safety gear during your time on the project including, boots, trousers, hat, gloves, shirts and where necessary wet weather gear and jumpers or jackets for cold climates.

Am I covered for work health and safety?

All participants will be afforded the relevant protections under existing state and territory legislation, any applicable Commonwealth laws and Australian anti-discrimination laws. All parties will hold relevant insurances. The Australian Government has also procured personal accident, public and products liability insurance on behalf of all participants to ensure you receive uniform minimum coverage.

I already get income support. Can I still join?

If you receive an income support payment, participating in the Green Army may affect your payment. If you join the Green Army full-time, your income support payment will be put on hold while you receive a Green Army allowance. For those who have agreements for participating part-time you can elect a pro-rata allowance or retain your income support arrangements.